Google makes Net Neutrality in India difficult, prevents IMA's opposition of Zero Rating

New Delhi, August 21: Internet giant Google has joined the bandwagon of companies thwarting net neutrality in India. It is claimed that Google has been trying to prevent the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) from opposing the Zero Rating. The Zero Rating allows users to access a website free of data charges by striking deals with different telecom operators.

MediaNama, which is a news and analysis website, Vineeta Dixit (a member of Google's public policy and government relations team) sent a letter to the IAMAI asking it to remove any mention of 'Zero Rating' in its report to the Department of Telecom.

Google argued that there was no consensus among Internet companies on the issue. The indifference got clearer, Google did not bother to participate in the consultation process for net neutrality. It has not even submitted any comments to the TRAI.

Despite receiving a specific invite from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT looking into Net Neutrality, Google opted out of deposing before it.

It is to be noted that Google had held back users in India from using free data by zero rating certain apps in May, following the public outrage against the offerings by Facebook's and Airtel's zero rated offerings.

OneIndia News